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California Congressman Wants Games to Carry a Warning Label

Paul Lilly
Jan 27, 2011

Page 1 of 10

Here we go again. For the umpteenth time, a politician is attaching himself to the controversial subject of videogames causing real-life violence. This time it's Caliornia congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto, CA) who wants to pass a bill that would slap a health warning label to "all videogames with an Electronics Software Ratings Board rating of Teen or higher," GamePolitics.com
reports
. Here's what the label would say:

"WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent videogames and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior."

Baca elaborated his stance saying, "The videogame industry has a responsibility to parents, families, and to consumers -- to inform them of the potentially damaging content that is often found in their products. They have repeatedly failed to live up to this responsibility. Meanwhile research continues to show a proven link between playing violent games and increased aggression in young people. American families deserve to know the truth about these potentially dangerous products."

The bill has the backing of Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), who likened the warning label those to those found on cigarette boxes.

"Just as we warn smokers of the health consequences of tobacco, we should warn parents -- and children -- about the growing scientific evidence demonstrating a relationship between violent videogames and violent behavior," Wolf said. "As a parent and grandparent, I think it is important people know everything they can about the extremely violent nature of some of these games."

This isn't a new topic by any means, nor is it cut and dry. In fact, one
recent study
by Dr. Christopher Ferguson and his research team from Texas A&M International University concluded that exposure to violence in videogames and television isn't able to predict aggressive behavior, but depressive symptoms can.

Cast your vote in the comments section below. Should games carry warning labels?

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